Hand Tools - Laser & Electronics - Tool Storage 2014

THE PRO’S ADVICE

JOHN DAVIES CARPET FITTER

MAKE YOUR PLANES WORK HARDER

HOW TO USE A BENCH PLANE

HOW TO USE A BLOCK PLANE

STEP 1 Fix the wood securely either against a bench stop on the bench top or in the bench vice. STEP 2 For right handed person adopt a firm base with your left foot well forward and your right foot and right hip as close to the line of cut as possible. If you are right handed, hold the front knob in your left hand finger tips and grasp the rear handle with the right hand with the index finger resting on the shoulder of the cutter; this helps maintain consistent direction, particularly important when squaring edges.

When planing end grain always work to a cut line, which is extended around all four faces to minimise fraying. Remember that if you at- tempt to plane a full width of end grain you are very likely to split a piece off the far edge of the wood, to eliminate this risk plane in from both ends.

HOW TO USE A DUPLEX REBATE PLANE

STEP 1 Set the width of the rebate and set the depth of the required cut. STEP 2 Start planing from the far end of the rebate and progressively work back to the near end. As you push the plane forward apply pres- sure on the heel with the right hand this will reduce the tendency for the cutter to ‘dig in’. TIP 1 It often helps to place the fingers of the left hand on the outer edge of the fence to help keep the plane in a perfectly upright posi- tion. For best result aim to produce a thin shaving as the absence of a cap iron to control the shaving demands more care from the user to produce a good result. TIP 2 If you need to clean up a stopped rebate move the cutter and lever cap to the forward bull nosed position. Depth adjustment will have to be done by hand as the lever function is not available in the forward position.

STEP 3 Place the toe (the base of the plane in front of the mouth) on the near end of the wood and apply light downward pressure to maintain even contact with the wood. Push the plane forward with your right hand and transfer your body weight from right foot onto the left foot as the plane progresses. When the toe approaches the far end of the wood reduce the downward pressure with the left hand and increase the pressure with the right hand until the mouth and cutter are clear of the wood. This is a very important skill to acquire as the consequence of rocking the plane at the start and finish of the stroke will be a rounded surface. STEP 4 At the end of each stroke it is better to lift the plane and return to the starting position rather than drawing it back over the wood, which could possibly dull the cutting edge prematurely.

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